FEDERATED STATES of MICRONESIA: Preliminary Damage Assessment
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONEISA: Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) High Tide Event, December 7-12, 2008 Report Submitted By Marilyn Shigetani PDA Team Leader (1/26/2009) 1 1. Background: I. Precipitators According to the National Weather Service, in early December 2008 a vigorous low pressure system formed north of Wake Island. Surface reports indicated a large area of 50 to 60kt surface winds formed along the low pressure’s northern periphery while it moved slowly towards the southeast to near 20N 174E by Sunday December 7, 2008. Surface winds weakened slightly, but remained at gale force, 35-40kt, by Tuesday, December 9, 2008. At the same time the moon’s orbit with the earth was approaching its closest point (perigee) causing unusually high tides. Reports from Altimetry showed significant wave heights in excess of 30ft near the low pressure system generating northerly swells in the range of 12-15ft from Majuro westward to Pohnpei and Chuuk. The combination of these factors resulted in high wave and tide events throughout the FSM. II. Evolution of PDA Request Beginning on December 7, 2008 and concluding on December 12, 2008, a tidal event swept over the Federated States of Micronesia, causing damage to crops and coastal areas throughout the country. In response to this incident the Governor of Pohnpei State, John Ehsa, declared the islands of Kapingamarangi, Mwokil, Ngetik, Nukuror, Oroluk, Pakin and Pingelap to be in State of Emergency on December 19, 2008. On December 24, 2008, Governor Robert Weilbacher of the State of Kosrae declared the existence of a state of emergency because of tidal surges that caused property flooding, damage and destruction of households, businesses, infrastructure and crops.
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